The Tribe of Frostgnar is a fearsome and savage band of Frost Giant that roam the frigid, unforgiving tundras of Norska. Known for their immense size, brute strength, and insatiable appetite for destruction, they embody the chaos and cruelty of their frozen homeland. The Frostgnar are descendants of Skald, the fallen Ice Elementari, whose essence flows through their icy veins. Their very existence is a chilling reminder of the primordial powers that once shaped the world.
Due to their unpredictable tendencies and tenuous leadership under their chosen champion, the giants of Frostgnar are often nomadic and travel where they please to find suitable game for hunting.
In appearance, Frostgnar giants are a terrifying sight:
- Towering over most other creatures, they stand between 20 and 30 feet tall.
- Pale blue or ice-gray, their skin is rough and jagged, resembling frozen stone.
- Long, frost-laden manes of white or silver, often braided with bones and shards of ice.
- Glowing like frost-covered moons, their eyes exude an eerie, cold luminescence.
- Rudimentary but deadly, they wear furs and fragments of metal scavenged from their victims, often adorned with icicles and trophies of battle.
Origins
The Frostgnar trace their lineage back to Skald, the Elementari of Ice who fell during The Planar Rapture as he battled with Borealis. When Skald fell, his essence seeped into the icy wastelands, birthing the Frost Giants, beings of unrelenting cold and fury. The Frostgnar claim to be the purest of these descendants, a tribe blessed by Skald’s frozen rage. They believe themselves to be the inheritors of his dominion over the north, destined to rule the tundras through strength and savagery.
Their origin myth tells of Frostgnar the Colossal, a giant of unmatched might who tore the heart of a mountain to form his weapon, a massive frost-hammer. It is said he laid the foundation of the tribe’s brutal traditions, declaring that only the strongest have the right to lead.
Society and Culture
The Tribe of Frostgnar thrives on savagery and dominance, holding the following values:
- The tribe’s hierarchy is brutally simple: the strongest leads. Leadership challenges are frequent, and the victor claims the title of champion. These battles are to the death, and the body of the defeated often becomes part of the victor's next meal.
- Frostgnar giants live by plundering the frozen lands. They raid Norskan villages, caravans, and even rival giant tribes, taking whatever they desire—be it food, weapons, or captives. Their raids are marked by devastation, leaving behind only ice-scorched ruins and frozen corpses.
- Frostgnar giants are infamous for their cannibalistic tendencies. They view consuming the flesh of their foes—and sometimes even their own kind—as a way to absorb strength and vitality. This habit extends to allies in times of scarcity, making them a constant threat to any coalition they join.
- Even within their own tribe, the Frostgnar are prone to infighting. Disputes over food, territory, or pride often erupt into violent clashes, ensuring that only the strongest survive.
Religion and Beliefs
The Frostgnar revere Skald as their eternal patron and fallen creator. They view the icy wastelands as his domain, and their survival in such harsh conditions as proof of his favor. Rituals in his honor are brutal and macabre, often involving the sacrifice of captives to the frozen winds or the consumption of fallen enemies.
They also harbor a grudging respect for the Unknown, particularly Skorn and Skorn, whom they see as embodying their own savage and bloodthirsty ethos.
The Tribes of Khaos
The Frostgnar are notoriously independent, answering to no one unless forced by overwhelming might. However, when a Warrior-King of Khaos rises to unite the Tribes of Norska, they may begrudgingly join the cause. Their allegiance comes at a steep price:
- The Warrior-King must defeat the Champion of Frostgnar in single combat, a trial that has ended many would-be kings.
- Even after submission, the Frostgnar are unreliable allies, prone to infighting with other tribes and treating weaker Norskans as prey. Their chaotic nature often disrupts the already fragile unity of Khaos warbands.
Legacy
The Tribe of Frostgnar embodies the harshness and savagery of the northern wastes. Their brutal ways and insatiable hunger for dominance make them both feared and reviled. As long as the ice winds howl across Norska, the Frostgnar will endure, a chilling testament to the raw, unrelenting power of Skald’s legacy.
“We are the sons of Skald, born of frost and wrath. All who stand before us will freeze, shatter, and be devoured.” – Hrimthaw Bloodtooth, Champion of Frostgnar